"FTC Blocks Stalkerware Founder for Good"

FTC Upholds Permanent Ban on Stalkerware Founder Scott Zuckerman The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has upheld a permanent ban on Scott Zuckerman, the founder of stalkerware companies Support King, SpyFone, and OneClickMonitor, from selling surveillance software. This decision, made in response to a July petition, maintains a 2021 ban that prohibits Zuckerman from offering or promoting any surveillance app or service. According to the FTC, Zuckerman's ban was initially imposed due to a data breach that exposed sensitive information. The breach compromised the personal information of both customers and the people they were spying on. The FTC's decision ensures that Zuckerman will not be able to revive his stalkerware business, which was once a lucrative venture. The FTC denied Zuckerman's request to cancel the ban, which was made in July of this year. The decision was announced in a press release on Monday, effectively putting an end to Zuckerman's involvement in the surveillance industry. The ban prohibits Zuckerman from offering, promoting, selling, or advertising any surveillance app, service, or business. Support King, SpyFone, and OneClickMonitor were all subsidiaries of Zuckerman's company, and were involved in the production and sale of stalkerware. Stalkerware, also known as spyware, is a type of software designed to secretly monitor and track a person's activities without their knowledge or consent. The FTC has been cracking down on the production and sale of stalkerware in recent years, citing concerns over its potential use in stalking and harassment cases. The FTC's decision to uphold the ban on Zuckerman is a significant victory for advocates of digital privacy and security. "This decision sends a strong message that the production and sale of stalkerware will not be tolerated," said a spokesperson for the FTC. "We will continue to work to protect consumers from invasive and malicious software." The ban on Zuckerman is a permanent one, and it is unclear what the future holds for the founder of Support King and its subsidiaries. However, one thing is certain: the surveillance industry has lost a major player, and consumers are safer as a result. In related news, the FTC has been working to crack down on the production and sale of stalkerware in recent years. In 2021, the agency banned several other companies from selling surveillance software, citing concerns over their potential use in stalking and harassment cases. The agency has also launched several investigations into the production and sale of stalkerware, and has worked to educate consumers about the risks associated with these types of software. The FTC's decision to uphold the ban on Zuckerman is a significant step forward in the fight against stalkerware. As the agency continues to work to protect consumers from invasive and malicious software, it is clear that the production and sale of stalkerware will not be tolerated.